KARACHI: Islam not against family planning, says expert
KARACHI, July 11: A seminar was held at the University of Karachi in connection with the World Population Day. A statement on Monday said the moot was organized under the auspices of the Karachi Society of Statistics and Information Sciences (KASSIS). Head Reproductive Health Programme CHS, Aga Khan University Karachi Prof Dr Mehtab S. Karim, was the key-note speaker on the occasion.
In his address, he informed the gathering that Islam does not oppose family planning.
Dr Karim also pointed out that breast feeding not only averted pregnancy but it was also the fundamental right of an infant to be breast fed for at least two years.
He said breast feeding served as an automatic immunization against many diseases.
It also helps prevent the chances of cancer and wards off many diseases that are linked with obesity and early child birth, he added.
Dr Karim also informed the audience about population, population planning and demographic transition among the Muslim countries of the world.
He said Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran and Egypt had shown positive signs of demographic transition of slow growth pattern.
Measured through Total Fertility Rate these countries are showing a definite decline of population growth, Dr Karim added.
He also discussed the reasons for high fertility rate among the Muslim societies and informed the audience that not the religion but the social structure was the driving force in keeping the fertility rate high among the Muslim countries.
The Secretary-General of the Karachi Society of Statistics and Information Sciences (KASSIS), Prof Zahid Mahmood, traced the history of human growth on this planet.
He remarked that in the earlier times developed world grew faster than developing countries.
However, Prof Mahmood added, with the advent of the 20th century the developed world saw a decline in population whereas developing countries grew very fast.
He pointed out that from two billion in 1925, the world population crossed three billion mark in 1960 and four billion in 1975.
The world population touched five billion on July 11, 1987 and on October 12, 1999 the world population crossed six billion mark.
Prof Mahmood said on the 19th World Population Day being marked on July 11 this year the United Nations had given a theme of ‘equality’.
He pointed out that Pakistan was the 6th most populous country of the world with 150 million people and was yet to see demographic transition in slowing down its population growth.
The president of the Karachi Society of Statistics and Information Sciences (KASSIS), Prof Masoodul Haq, presented the vote of thanks.—APP
